Well…I think it’s fair to say that for most people about to go through Cancer treatment going to the oncologist for the first time is a rather nerve-racking experience. I think this is true of a radiologist as well ( but my experience with that is in a later blog). For me it was seriously stressful…going into the unknown. What is going to happen to me?

One thing I will say is take someone with you if you can. I like to think of myself as a fairly self-sufficient person but thank goodness my sister came with me, as I left forgetting a good amount of what was said. A lot of information is thrown at you and some of it is in medical terms which makes it a tad confusing, or it was in my case.

First time to an oncologist is one of those situations where even Dr Google can’t give you a heads up.

We were called and on entering initially met the oncologists registrar. She was lovely, made us feel welcome and I began filling in forms and answering questions.. I do remember her asking if there was cancer in the family. My sister and I both initially firmly said ‘no, no-one we can think of’. Then as more questions were asked we both began remembering aunties and uncles who had actually passed away with cancer. “Oh, wait, such and such had cancer.” “Oh, and so did such and such”. The registrar quietly started jotting things down as we continued on our own little conversation about relatives who had had cancer. By the time we had listed number 10, a cousin, we both got the giggles because we realised how bad our initial ‘no’ sounded. All the registrar said then with an absolute deadpan expression was “so there is definitely cancer in the family”, silent pause and all three of us laughed. Not sure laughing about this in an oncology office is appropriate but it certainly broke the ice.

Just a quick segue here. A few people have asked me in comments where I am from. I’m in Australia and I will do a few blogs later about different issues in different countries when it comes to treatments. But for now, if you are Australian and there is a history of cancer in the family the government has just (like VERY recently) changed the rules about accessing tests to see if your cancer is hereditary. Previously it would cost you $6000 approx. to have these tests done, but now you can have them free under Medicare. You must have a cancer diagnosis and need a specialist referral. Often it isn’t mentioned by specialists (because it’s so new). but it certainly is worth asking about if you have a history of Cancer in the family. I’m currently waiting for my results after the breast cancer.

Anyway, back to the oncology office. Once initial forms were completed we met the oncologist who was also lovely. However, this is where I suddenly realised my world had changed. Because of what had happened I was being given preventative chemo. It was explained to me that whilst the lymph nodes tested in the bowel seemed clear ( lymph nodes are the go to for cancer testing in many cases…who knew those little guys were so important!) because blood and other liquids had permeated my whole system I needed treatment to ensure that other cancers wouldn’t form in impacted areas. Whew.

I understood that. So I’m thinking, a few quick treatments back near home and I’ll be back to work and ‘normal life’ in a jiffy. How wrong I was. I was to go on a course of 12 chemo sessions where I would need it every two weeks. Still sounded OK until I realised it was 6 months. OK maybe I could go home ( remember 7 hours away) work and then pop to a nearby town for treatment every two weeks. In hindsight I really didn’t understand what was coming.

Basically that was met with a ‘that’s not a good idea.’ and a facial expression from the oncologist that said it all. I think at this point my sister stepped in and asked the right questions. I was still going “what am I going to do” in my head.

I really didn’t understand what chemo can entail. I’d worked with a woman who had chemo and she had kept working through the process, why couldn’t I? I didn’t understand that my particular treatment would involve being at the hospital every week for treatment together with 3 days of chemo every second week and all the side effects it entails. Could I have done it from my hometown meaning a 2 to 5 hour round trip three times a fortnight for six months at a minimum. In hindsight, absolutely not.

Again everyone’s journey is different. The treatment schedule and access to treatment, the side effects and the highs and lows along the way make it so unique. What everyone going through treatment has in common though is it definitely impacts your life. Unfortunately for me, I was told at my first appointment I wouldn’t be going home for six months. I actually am grateful to my first oncologist because it was absolutely the right call, but talk about turning your life upside down!

I rang my 18 year old son who was at home doing a gap year and said “Looks like you are ‘batching’ now ( on your own). Mum’s running away from home for 6 months”.

This actually extended to a good part of a year.